faith fellowship september/october 2019 abide in …...faith fellowship september/october 2019 vol....

September/October 2019

Faith FellowshipVol. 86, No. 5

Abide in Me

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Created to Bear Fruit

YC19: RevealedConvention Reflection Counting It All Joy

INTERNATIONALMISSION

THEOLOGY DISCIPLE-MAKINGp. 4 p. 14 p. 16

FAITH & FELLOWSHIP Volume 86 - Number 5

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

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2 Faith & Fellowship

Quiet Moments Email prayer requests to: [email protected]

Editor In Chief/Graphic Designer: Troy [email protected]

Contributing Editor: Brent [email protected]

Copy Editor: Aaron [email protected]

Cover Photo: Grapes in a VineyardSalima Senyavskaya/iStock

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Optimize Your GivingGary Ribe

Glimpse Project: Chad 3.0Matthew Rogness

Jesus said, “Abide in me...” (John 15:4). He does not say, abide in service for me, nor in works of godliness. He only says, “Abide in me.” This is the secret of sanctification. What it means to abide in him, he explains a bit later. He tells us it is to abide in his Word and his love. Ask yourself, what does the Word of Christ or his love, mean to you? Is this your life, or your foundation when your conscience condemns you and your heart is restless? What is your comfort and stay in the day when you suffer defeat? Is it that you will do better next time? The Word of Christ is forgiveness of sins, victory over sin,

power and restoration—the only foundation a Christian can build on. The love of Christ is the only thing a child of God can cling to when one experiences how cold and careless one has become. To abide in Christ is to abide in his Word and in his love. There we are blessed—in spite of everything.

Hans Edvard Wisløff (1902—1969) was a Norwegian theologian and writer. He was also the Bishop of the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland from 1959 until his death in 1969.

Wisløff, H.E., Quiet Moments on the Way Home. Fergus Falls, MN: Faith & Fellowship Press, 1993.

Abide in HimH.E. WISLØFF

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4 Created to Bear FruitJon Ronnevik 6 Abide in Jesus

Gary Witkop

8 Connected to ChristRon Erickson

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ROY HEGGLAND

16 Counting It All JoyDan Venberg

20 re:ThinkBrent Juliot

14 YC19: Convention ReflectionOlivia Nordlund

19 CLB News

11 Fruitful WomenCheryl Olsen

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Glimpse

Grafted InTROY TYSDAL

When I was a teenager, I had a close friend who was adopted. He had been told about his adoption when he was just a child, but didn’t fully process what it meant until he was much older. His adoptive parents showered him with love and affection, provided security and stability, put a roof over his head, placed food on the table, and even promised a future inheritance—all that they had belonged to him. In their thought, the adoption had no impact on his standing in the family. He was theirs, and that’s all that mattered. On the other hand, the young teen spent many nights thinking about who he was and where he came from. He wondered if his biological father might be a professional athlete, or his mother a famous actress. He racked his brain trying to find a reason why such successful people might place their child up for adoption. In his thought, adoption was central to his identity. It became an excuse for rebellion and a reason to reject the love of those who had received him as their own.

JOHN 1:10-13The Apostle John writes, “Jesus was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” In the book of Romans the olive tree is used as a metaphor for being in Jesus. The Apostle Paul speaks of Jesus as the root of the tree and the people of Israel as its branches. He writes about branches that have been broken off due to unbelief,

and branches that have been grafted in by faith. The Apostle Paul tells us that the branches grafted in share the same nourishing root as the natural branches of the tree—the fact that they were grafted in has no impact on their standing with the root. As those who believe in Jesus Christ, we have been adopted by God, and the Scriptures invite us to call him Abba—Father. You see, we are more than guests in the house of God. We are his children, and as his children we are shown love and affection, we are provided for, and all that God has... he gives to us. The Apostle Paul writes, “If we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). We are his, and that is truly all that matters. But like the teenage boy, we often forget—we forget to abide in his Word and in his love. We focus more on

who we are apart from him than who we are in him—and we lose ourselves. This is a great tragedy. Fortunately for us, the family business is pursuing the lost, and because God loves us, he is never far from us—no matter how we have sinned against him. Have you sinned against God? It is unavoidably true. Return to his Word, and you will find forgiveness. Abide in his love... and you will find your identity.

Rev. Troy Tysdal is Director of Communications and Prayer for the Church of the Lutheran Brethren and serves as editor in chief of Faith & Fellowship magazine.

Visit the CLB online at: www.CLBA.org

Lubushka/iStock The Olive Tree.


“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

—John 15:1-2

runing is a horticultural practice involving selective removal of certain parts of a plant, such as

branches, buds, or roots. There are many reasons to prune: deadwood removal, improving or sustaining health, shaping, increasing yield or quality of fruit. In John 15, Jesus applies the pruning process to us. As we are all connected to Jesus Christ, the true vine, God the Father prunes by removing the “diseased, damaged, dead, non-productive,

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structurally unsound, and unwanted tissue” from our churches and from our lives. The purpose of being in the vine of Christ, and being pruned by God the Father, is that we bear fruit. In Galatians 5, Paul lists the fruits of the Spirit. In Colossians, he prays for the fruitfulness of the young Church, that they would be “bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (1:10). The question raised by Jesus’ words of John 15 is this: Are we willing to submit to God’s pruning in our churches and in our lives so that he may be glorified by a fruitful harvest? God promises that he is at work, whether we acknowledge it or not. Jesus says that his Father is pruning with two specific purposes—1) cutting

away the dead and 2) pruning the fruitful to increase their fruitfulness. This cutting and pruning is now happening in the grand scope of mankind. It boils down to two groups: those who accept the message of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and those who reject it.

Cutting off

“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit”—the dead wood. Those who reject the free gift of salvation in Christ are cut off and removed. This picture of judgment is seen throughout the Scriptures. Cutting away dead wood can bring an immediate sense of safety. Look at aging or dying trees around our homes. There is great risk that the winds

Created to Bear FruitJON RONNEVIK

The Vineyards of Provence/andreygonchar/iStock


will break loose those dead branches hanging above sidewalks, driveways, and roofs. We may be quite unaware of the rot on the inside, until the branches suddenly fall, crushing whatever they land on. For a grape vine, a large dead branch can cause extensive damage. Falling, it may take with it healthy branches and shoots that are bearing fruit, resulting in destruction, or even death, of the greater vine. Cutting away dead wood benefits the life of the greater plant. A dying branch sucks life-giving nutrients from the rest of the plant. It drains energy. It causes distress. Who is to be cut away from the True Vine? Those who do not believe. Those who have heard God’s Word, have witnessed him in creation, yet reject him. Never truly having life in the vine, they are cut off, and piled up to be burned. This is the picture of the coming Judgment, but it reveals the immediate consequence of rejecting Christ: separation from the peace, grace and gifts that come through salvation in the Lord. The Book of Revelation suggests that those who claim faith but do not bear the fruit of the Spirit will be cut off: “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (3:16). Jesus puts this another way: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father…” (Matthew 7:21). Not everyone who says they are a Christian is alive and bearing fruit. If they are indifferent

toward God’s Son, toward his grace and mercy and truth, they will be cut off.

Pruning

God cuts off the dead and unfruitful, but he prunes the fruitful to increase their fruitfulness. This is judgment turned promise! The main effect of pruning is to stimulate growth, to ensure the health of the Church as a whole and to increase the effectiveness of its production. The pruning that we undergo as individuals, or face as churches, is not for our own beauty to be seen or for the sweetness of our fruit to be tasted. Rather it’s to display the glory of the Lord, that he would be made known and that people we encounter may call on the Lord and also be grafted into the vine, as he promises. Pruning is painful and hard, but it is the Lord’s work. We who are being pruned do not always see or understand what God is doing. Suffering can be refining. Disease can produce faith. Struggles we endure can provide witness and testimony to the lives of others. In our churches, these struggles may be felt as unexpected budget drains, leadership changes, faltering programs, even scandal. God’s pruning is a process and a promise to make his Church into the image of his Son by removing the thoughts, behaviors, and identities that this world imposes, but that are contrary to the Father’s will. He removes the idols, behaviors, secret sins, and even people that distract us from his work and his will. Not all of our church ministries are bearing good fruit. What is God cutting

out as dead wood or fruitless work in the ministry of his Church? What is robbing resources and focus from the rest of the ministry? God promises to do the judging and the cutting, for his glory, so that the vine—his Son—may produce fruit through those connected to the vine. God prunes the fruitful to increase their fruitfulness. When the gardener does his pruning well, he leaves little more than the vine. May we learn to rest in the pruning work of the Father, as he shapes and directs the growth of his Church and bears his fruit through us, his people! “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Pastor Jon Ronnevik serves Word of Life Lutheran Brethren Church in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:1-2


“Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”

—John 15:3-4, ESV

n the movie Knight and Day, Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz play a super spy and an innocent bystander,

respectively. Enemy spies are after Cruise when he happens to run into Diaz. The enemy assumes the two are together, which means now they are both in danger,

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and must go on the run together. And Diaz doesn’t appreciate it. In one scene, Cruise’s character tells Diaz’ character, “You’re better off with me than without me.” For emphasis, he moves his hands close together when he says the word with and further apart when he says the word without. “With me, without me; with me, without me. Your likelihood of survival is better with me… than without me.” With Jesus. Without Jesus. Yes. With Jesus. Without Jesus. Yes, with Jesus. The Bible says with Christ we can do all things (Philippians

4:13). With Christ, without Christ. Or as Jesus phrases it in John 15, abiding in Jesus or not abiding in Jesus. Our likelihood of survival as a Christian, of bearing fruit as a Christian, of anything as a Christian... It’s about abiding in Jesus, or not abiding in Jesus. So what does that mean—to abide? To continue in; to remain in. Looking at this text through that lens, we understand that Jesus has made us clean. We are clean because his Word has cleansed us. Through the work of the law, he convicts us. In the work of the gospel, he brings us his faith and forgiveness.

Abide in JesusGARY WITKOP

Javier_Art_Photography/iStock


He has made us Christians. He has cleansed us. He has made us right with him. So what does all of this add up to? Abiding in Jesus, we don’t need to continually go back to being cleansed again because we’re already clean. This is not to say that we are not in need of a continued cleansing. No, we sin in thought, word and deed daily. So we are always in need of cleansing. We can get so focused on our sin and our need of being forgiven, that we do not walk forward in our faith. We may be tripped up with thoughts of, “Oh, I can’t do that. I’m just no good.” But Jesus says, “My Word is in you. I am in you. You can do it. You can go forward. You have been cleansed, you are clean.” That’s what Martin Luther experienced in his early years as a monk. He would spend hours in the confessional booth trying to think of everything he might have done that could possibly be a sin. He feared his sin would keep him from heaven. His confessor tried to encourage him by saying, “You’re too hard on yourself. Come back, Martin, when you have something real to confess.” We can get so caught up in our sin, our guilt, our unrighteousness, that we can’t walk in our forgiveness. Abiding in Jesus, we can walk forward in our faith. As Paul writes, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14b-15).

A big part of John 15 is about bearing fruit. We cannot bear fruit if we’re only looking back at our sin. So the first step in our walk with Jesus is to be cleansed by his Word. We may need to take that step over and over in our lives because we are sinful and we keep sinning. But we also need to walk in him. The first step is necessary, but the first step isn’t the same as walking. So, as cleansed people going forward in our faith, we see that Jesus connects bearing fruit with being pruned. In the vineyard, they prune the branches almost back to the vine. Almost all of the previous year’s growth comes off. The old growth is not important. Only the vine is, because in the vine is everything. Everything that we need to bear fruit, to be healthy, to grow. It’s all in the vine. Connected to the vine, the branch can be healthy. Snip that branch off and it withers and dies. At first it looks good. When you go out and snip off flowers from your garden, and then put them in a jar of water—they look good! Pretty. But not for long. God is our source of all things good and he has all we need for health and life as a Christian, so we need to remain connected to him in order to accomplish what he has called us to do. Divine supply is everything the branch needs. That means that we supply nothing except what God has given to us. If we are to grow in Christ, we come to him as empty vessels and he fills us. We connect to the vine and he fills us.

So how do we abide in Jesus? Through spiritual discipline—like daily Bible reading, prayer, a quiet time with God. All of that is part of remaining in Jesus. Why do we need this? Is it for us personally? Yes, but we also need it for others—to bear fruit for their benefit. After all, the vineyard owner does not plant great vines just to watch them grow into nice plants. Many years ago, my parents owned a resort near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. One summer, one of our guests was visited by her parents from Italy. They had never been far from their hometown—and never out of Italy. When they finally came to visit, they were amazed by all the huge farms and all the big trees. As her father looked closer at the maple and birch trees, he asked, “What kind of fruit grows on them?” No fruit, he was told. “Oh, so they’re weeds. In Italy we would cut them down.” We are created for a purpose: To abide in Jesus—to bear much fruit. Without him, we can do nothing. But as we abide in Jesus, and he in us, the fruit will come.

Rev. Gary Witkop is Pastor at Community in Christ Lutheran Brethren Church in Arvada, Colorado.

Jesus said, “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” John 15:3-4, ESV


enjoy fruit. I enjoy pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, apples, and oranges—the list goes on and on. I

just enjoy fruit. But I don’t always like to think about fruit from my life, because I rarely consider it correctly. For instance, when I finish preaching to an audience my pride jumps up and wants to know if I did a good job. Someone, tell me it was good! I want to know that I produced good fruit. But in John 15:5 Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (ESV). It’s a statement. Not, maybe you will bear fruit. You will bear much fruit. So why do we need to know if it was good fruit? I read the other day that a pastor was named Most Humble Pastor in America. His congregation gave him the medal. The next Sunday he wore the medal to church, and they took it away. Our pride wants the credit, the approval, the pat on the back, the “Atta boy!”—for doing what Christ produces in us and through us.

I My New Testament professor, John Kilde, once said in a seminary class, “If I knew the fruit I was producing, my flesh would eat it up!” In other words, I would take all the credit when the real credit goes to Christ. It is not my fruit. It is not your fruit. Because without him we can do nothing! In other words, without him we bear no fruit for the kingdom. Now, I’d like you to tell me which of these branches will bear more fruit?

The answer is neither one! Neither one is connected to the tree! Neither one is living. One branch appears to have more life in it, but it is just a matter of time until both look the same—dead! Neither one will bear any fruit. And neither will

anyone who is not connected to the vine! Jesus says, “Apart from me, you can do nothing. But connected to me you will bear much fruit!” Now, does either of these pictures describe you? The cut branch with no leaves is like being spiritually dead. Dried up and ready for the fire. Jesus says, “If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned” (John 15:6). This branch is you if you have not been connected to Christ, have not believed in him, have not received the forgiveness of sins from him, and are not dwelling in his Word or bearing his fruit. Or maybe you are like the second branch that was freshly cut. It still has leaves, but know that you are withering away. At one time you were full of vitality—of the Lord’s Spirit—but lately it’s as if you are dying! Maybe you are like a third tree. One that looks beautiful from a distance. But as you draw closer you discover it’s just ornamental, plastic, fake!

Connected to ChristRON ERICKSON

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In all three cases, there is no fruit. Faking fruit for Christ is not bearing fruit at all. Praise the Lord! He causes us to see how much we need to be with him and abide in him. He brings about a confession of sin from within us. He alone is able to graft us back into the vine, so that his life-giving blood covers our sins, and he grants us his life and hope. What does your branch produce when you are growing from the true vine? Good fruit! If I do produce fruit for the kingdom while still living in this body, it’s really not mine! It’s really not yours. It’s fruit of his vine! “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit…” Thus, any good fruit is not mine, but only produced from his vine! When Pastor John Juhl served with me in Lutheran Brethren Fellowship Church in Williston, I would often tell him after he preached a sermon, “John, that was way too good to be you!” Which is really the highest compliment a pastor can receive. That sermon was just way too good to be you! In other words that was fruit from the Vine! Consider what this fruit is like. “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). Our prayer, and how we pray, is a fruit born by abiding in Christ. As he lives in us and we in him, he changes our prayer-life from self-centeredness to alignment with his will. When I was in my late teens and early

twenties, my prayers were all about winning the sweepstakes—something like winning the lottery today. I filled out more applications than you can imagine, and I prayed and prayed for God to let me win. And finally… I did! I won a set of pots and pans. Today I thank God for that “victory” because it turned me from silly self-centered prayers to alignment with Jesus in prayer. He taught us how to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Father, not my will but yours be done!” That kind of prayer is related to another fruit of abiding in Christ—love. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love” (John 15:9). The love of God was fully displayed when the Father sent his Son Jesus Christ as the sacrifice for sinful human beings like you and me. That is amazing love! And that love is now in us as we abide in Christ. It is love that sacrifices for our neighbors. In Acts 7, Stephen is preaching about Jesus to the Sanhedrin. As Stephen finishes his sermon, he says, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56). In response, the Jewish leaders become furious and throw stones at him in order to kill him. But, filled with the love of Christ, Stephen cries out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Remember Jesus’ own words from the cross: “Father, forgive them they do not know what they are doing!” The love of Christ is flowing through Stephen both as he preaches the Word,

and as he seeks the salvation of his opponents, right to the end. This is the fruit of being connected to Christ the vine. The fruit of the vine definitely isn’t our doing! So remain in him and he in you, and you will bear much fruit, but apart from him neither you nor I will do anything for the kingdom of God.

Rev. Ron Erickson is Pastor at Lutheran Brethren Fellowship Church in Williston, North Dakota.


Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7

The Vine and BranchesROY HEGGLAND

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

—John 15:5

here is a forest across the street from our home. It is dense with trees, bushes and vines. I have

never seen any fruit hanging from the branches of any of those vines. In fact, many of those vines wrap around trees with so many branches that they seem to be strangling the trees. When Jesus is speaking in John 15 about the vine and the branches, he is talking about a different kind of vine. In the Old Testament, Israel is often referred to as a vine. But when God checked it for fruit, it had none. Instead it was much more like the vines in the woods across the street—the ones that are sapping the life out of their host trees. When Jesus refers to himself as the vine he is saying that he is the True Vine, and branches that sprout from the True Vine will bear much fruit. You may ask, “What kind of fruit is Jesus talking about in this Scripture?” The vine referred to here is

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control, even when experiencing the most devastating rejection and most brutal death imaginable. A grape vine only bears fruit through its branches. Jesus has chosen us, the branches, as the means by which he brings his fruit to a fallen and darkened world. Our neighbors around the world will get a glimpse of Jesus through the fruit of his branches. The world is desperate for this fruit. Although giving isn’t listed among the fruit of Galatians 5:22-23, I suggest that giving for the benefit of others is the expression of all those attributes. Jesus expressed who he is by giving himself for the world.

Roy Heggland is Associate for Biblical Stewardship for the Church of the Lutheran Brethren.

the grape vine which was very common in Israel. What type of fruit would we expect from the branch of a grape vine? How about grapes! If the type of fruit borne by the branch reflects the type of vine from which it has grown, then when Jesus says that we bear fruit as branches springing from him, the True Vine, that fruit must reflect him. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit (of Christ) as love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control. These attributes of Jesus are very different from what we would ascribe to the spirit of the world in which we live. The contrast is striking. Would any of those words be used to describe the society of today? And yet, we are being cultivated by the “Gardener” to be foreign to the culture of today and to reflect Jesus, who is himself love; who considered it joy to die for us; who is our peace; who is so long-suffering with this world (and his branches!); who is so gentle with us as he cultivates our fruit; who is all that is good; who cannot be anything but faithful; who was meek and lowly; and who had complete self-

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A s I look at the grape arbor in my backyard, heavy with grape clusters, shaded by large leaves,

and old gnarled branches intertwined with young tender green branches, it reminds me of the many fruitful women I have known in my life, who ministered in both big and small ways. I’m grateful for women who were older than me: My Sunday School teacher who loved God’s Word and urged us to memorize a Bible verse each week. Because of her, there are verses that God still brings to my mind to comfort, convict, and console me. A pastor’s wife asked me—a new kid in church—to participate in a skit. She modeled God’s love simply by caring enough to know my name, and asking me to join her. I’m thankful for those who were just a few years older than me: camp counselors and youth leaders who genuinely enjoyed crazy kids and young adults. Some of those, who lovingly listened to countless questions and endured conversations into the night, have impacted my life to this day. I’m appreciative of my peers: Bible study friends who together challenge one another to go deeper spiritually, and who can be counted on to pray for one another, and be there in times of joy or need. I’m indebted to those who are younger than me: for the loving patience of a younger co-worker, who first taught me computer skills. I’m grateful for the ease of women who intuitively use new technology and graciously reach out to teach others. I admire young women who continue to grow spiritually, while balancing work and home life. As I reflect on examples of fruitful women, I remember one who is now in her late nineties. She was seventy years old when she volunteered to teach music to a group of sixty grade school girls

volunteers; and today many are active in various churches—sharing Jesus with another generation to come. Young or old, we draw our strength from the Vine. Let us be encouraged as we bear fruit together, and rejoice in what God is doing in and through us in varied ways, in various places, praying for others to be grafted into the Vine!

Cheryl Olsen is the Faith & Fellowship correspondent for Women’s Ministries of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren.

Visit: www.WMCLB.org

every Friday afternoon at church. She inspired me! Her humble availability and willingness to learn new music, as well as teaching some old favorites, must have been challenging for her. Yet, she taught three classes of twenty often rambunctious girls, as they rotated through her church basement music room each week. “Lamplighters” was a free after-school girls’ program with snacks, followed by Bible stories, music, and crafts, totally run by volunteer women, and a few youth helpers. In retrospect, I see how God used all of us, banded together in different generations —though we were completely exhausted after ninety minutes each Friday. As we cleaned up juice spills on the carpet, dismantled tables, and swept up assorted craft beads, some weeks we wondered if it was worth it! Yes! As I look back almost thirty years later, the answer is yes. Some of those girls became part of the youth group as they “graduated” from our program; others came back to help as Lamplighter


Church of the Lutheran Brethren

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Fruitful WomenCHERYL OLSEN


“So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

—Matthew 22:21

ltimately all things belong to God. As Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and

everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” So, the things that are Caesar’s are only his for a time. For Christians in the United States we don’t have Caesar, we have Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam’s idea of what is his is subject to change based on a variety of factors. Some of those factors we have a great degree of influence over, others we have very little. At the end of 2017, Congress rushed to pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), changing many things in the tax code. Many taxpayers did not understand the full implications at the time, but came to realize them in April when they filed their first tax return under the new set of rules. There are two key broad changes that impact charitable giving: 1) The standard deduction was doubled. 2) There was a

U$10,000 limit put on deductibility of state and local taxes (SALT). As a result of these two changes, many taxpayers found they were no longer itemizers. The Tax Policy Center estimates that in 2018 almost 90% of households elected the standard deduction and received no incremental tax benefit from their tithing or other charitable contributions. They believe this increased from approximately 70% prior to the TCJA.1 Now, from a biblical perspective, the presence or absence of a tax benefit should not be a material input in determining one’s generosity. But the Bible also talks a great deal about stewardship and the need to be thoughtful and careful with the resources God has given us. In the spirit of stewardship, there are some charitable planning strategies that may recoup lost benefits and help re-direct resources away from the Federal Government to other causes. In our practice, we have worked with many charitably inclined individuals. While we found they spend time thinking

about how much to give or who to give to, few of them spend energy on the most effective ways to give. Before we get to a few potential strategies to consider, we recommend seeking the advice of a qualified tax, legal, or financial professional, as some of these have nuances and potential implementation issues that may make them more or less attractive to you and/or applicable to your situation.

Qualified Charitable distributions (QCDs)Those readers who are 70 ½ or older and have retirement accounts are probably aware that the IRS requires you to take distributions from those accounts each year. These are Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). For several years, the IRS has allowed IRA account holders (Traditional IRAs, Inherited IRAs, and inactive SEP or SIMPLE IRAs) who are 70 ½ or older at the time of distribution, to direct an amount up to $100,000 directly to one or any number of 501(c)3 charitable organizations. This can satisfy

Optimize Your GivingGARY RIBE

Jirapong Manustrong/iStock

part or all of an RMD in an amount up to $100,000. If you are fortunate enough that your RMD is over $100,000 then you would still need to take the remaining amount. In the past when there were more itemizers, a QCD might not have been as valuable because many taxpayers could simply claim a charitable deduction. While not an optimal approach, the donor still reaped the vast majority of the tax benefit. Now with many more taxpayers taking the standard deduction, a QCD is suddenly a much more important charitable planning strategy. Here’s why: donating all or part of your RMD is a direct distribution and not a deduction, you do not take possession of the funds. As a distribution it does not get reported as income, so it does not matter whether one itemizes or takes the standard deduction. This means those pushed to take a standard deduction can be charitable and still reap a tax benefit. There are also several ancillary benefits of doing this that existed in the past, but bear repeating today. First, since a QCD is not reported as income it doesn’t factor into your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). That may be important because of several AGI-based figures, and keeping that number as low as possible has several potentially positive knock-on effects. The first is that it may reduce taxability of Social Security payments. The second is that it may reduce Medicare premiums. The third, and potentially most valuable for seniors, is that it produces a lower threshold for deductibility of health care expenses. Doing a QCD comes with some rules, so consult with an advisor. Some big ones are that you have to be over 70 ½ to start doing them, the funds need to be paid directly from an IRA to a 501(c)3 charity, and RMDs are the first dollars out of an IRA in a tax year, so plan your distributions around your giving.

donor-advised funds (DAFs)One way to recoup a charitable deduction

is to concentrate giving in certain tax years so that the size of the deduction allows the donor to itemize and claim a tax benefit. A common concern we hear from charitably inclined clients is that such a strategy may put undue financial strain on the charities they are supporting, as those organizations may plan on getting those funds annually and spend it too fast. Parishioners with those concerns and the means to plan their giving over several years may want to consider a Donor-Advised Fund. A DAF is like your own small-foundation where charitable contributions go in, a deduction gets taken up front, and funds can be disbursed over several years. This has the effect of bunching charitable deductions in certain years for tax purposes while controlling the pace of the actual disbursements. It should be noted that you cannot direct a QCD to a DAF.

donating aPPreCiated assets

One of the best ways to optimize giving and potentially have more to give is to donate an appreciated asset held in a taxable account. Examples of appreciated assets are typically shares of stock, exchange traded funds, or mutual funds. While this makes a lot of sense, in practice we see few people coming to us looking to donate something other than cash. As an example, let’s say you wanted to donate $50,000 to Hillcrest Academy’s Capital Account and you have the choice between donating $50,000 from a checking account or $50,000 of a company’s stock, of which $10,000 is the original cost of your investment. You could simply write a check for $50,000. But if you gift the stock, Hillcrest could then sell it without a tax consequence, and you would avoid capital gains taxes on the $40,000 gain. Looking at this another way, if you were looking at a multi-year charitable plan and doing a Donor-Advised Fund, you could gift the stock to the DAF and then it could be sold without incurring a capital gain. The funds could then be disbursed according

to your plan. Note that to get a deduction for the fair market value of the security, it must qualify for long term capital gain treatment (be held longer than one year).

ConClusion

Many US taxpayers filed their returns in April only to find that the TCJA took their charitable deductions away. That doesn’t necessarily need to be the case. Careful planning and thoughtful stewardship can create measurable value and redistribute funds away from Uncle Sam to other, potentially more worthy beneficiaries. Gary Ribe is a managing partner of Accretive Wealth Partners in Red Bank, New Jersey. He serves as the firm’s Chief Investment Officer. Gary is a CFA Charterholder, a CFP® Professional, and has an MBA with Asset Management Concentration from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. He is a member of Hillside Church in Succasunna, New Jersey.

Stephen Esposito, CFP® and Eric Furey CFA, CFP® both made substantial contributions to this article.


www.CLBA.org/givingCLB

1. www.taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/what-standard-deduction

Sources

Accretive Wealth Partners, LLC (“Accretive Wealth”) is a registered investment advisor. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Accretive Wealth and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.

www.accretivewealthpartners.com

Any information provided herein is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute tax or legal advice. Neither Accretive Wealth Partners, LLC nor any of its representatives provide legal or tax advice. The information provided herein cannot be used to avoid tax penalties and is not intended to recommend any particular tax plan or arrangement.

Please consult a tax advisor before making any decisions based on the information provided herein.

Disclosures


wo years ago, I wrote about YC17—why it’s important to young people, and how it changes

lives. I wrote it as a sixteen year old. Now, I’m nearly nineteen, and looking back, I greatly underestimated the power of a convention like this. I’m convinced that when you’re in high school, two years can change you as much as ten years can when you’re an adult. Grades six through twelve are extremely influential years. People change so much. I’m living proof of that. During YC17, I was about to be a junior in high school and was highly anxious. I chased happiness and contentment in the most fleeting forms, and I had no idea what I was going to do with my life. Many students who attend YC are in the exact same spot I was. The pressure they feel is intense. The lies they hear might seem appealing, but they always end up feeling empty. They

T hear voices from all sides telling them they’re worthless, they don’t matter, they have to do it by themselves. At YC, they’re told “you’re beautiful,” “you’re loved,” and “you don’t have to do this alone.” Those truths are so precious. Life is so hard in middle and high school, and it keeps getting harder. The vulnerability and transparency of the YC speakers who present the truth gives students hope that they are not alone. There’s something about hearing real life stories from people who have (actually!) been teenagers too. Those stories stick with the students who attend YC, and the hope they hear can make all the difference in their lives. They listen to these truths alongside others who are in the same boat, and they are experiencing what fellowship in the Church is supposed to be. They sing these truths, accompanied by hundreds of other voices. They see these truths

displayed through some of God’s greatest creation. They’re surrounded on all sides with God’s goodness, and they’re hearing the real gospel, not one that fills in the not-so-pretty parts with fluff. There’s no room for fluff with teenagers. They sure aren’t getting fluff in real life, so let’s not give them fluff at church. Young people have the opportunity to get as much out of YC as the Lord puts on their hearts. I’ve seen first-hand how God uses the convention to grow his Church, and how he works in the hearts of his children. I know that many have come to faith through attending YC. I’ve seen students start to act differently. I’ve seen them step up in new ways. YC is raising up leaders. YC is equipping the Church, because young people are the Church right now. I think of 1 Timothy 4:12 often when I think about my youth group. “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you

YC19: ReflectionOLIVIA NORDLUND

David Crowder in concert at YC19.Bjorn Hanson, YC19


are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” I think one thing I’ve failed at as I’ve grown up is looking to people younger than me as an example. Many of them have hearts hungry for the gospel. They ask question after question, and have a child-like faith that we could all learn from. During YC17, as I watched the youth leaders and heard the speakers, I felt a tug at my heart. It all clicked as I realized we were going to need a new youth leader at our church—and it was going to be me. Still, I had no clue the impact it would have on me. That week I asked if I could be a youth leader, and it has changed my life. At YC19, there were hundreds of kids in the same position I was in two years ago. There are bound to be many of them whose lives have been changed as mine was—one day we will hear their stories.

As I look back at myself from one youth convention to the next, I see so clearly the work God has done in my life through this time in the mountains. Although the speakers and organizers are targeting the messages and activities towards youth, I think the leaders take away just as much, because we have been there before. We’ve been middle and high schoolers struggling our way through life. At YC we are fed the Word of God from people who know the struggle. And as leaders, we have the privilege of discussing what we’ve learned, and helping the youth grow into what God has created them to be. My youth group has been a light in the darkness to me through these past couple of years. I never would have had this relationship with them or had the chance to be a leader to them if it wasn’t for the ministry of YC. Now I’m going to college to learn how to be an even better leader to

youth. I’m so thankful for all the weeks I’ve been able to spend in the mountains. The impact of YC goes beyond time spent at YMCA of the Rockies. It’s life-long. It’s eternal. I’ve never been a part of something quite like it. Thank you for your support of YC—past, present, and future!

Olivia Nordlund is a member of Grace Lutheran Brethren Church in Bismarck, North Dakota.

elev te

v

Summer 2021 • Estes Park, CO

See more YC19 photos and videos at: www.ELEVATEYC.org

Bjorn Hanson, YC19 Gabriel Kellen, YC19 Gabriel Kellen, YC19

Gabriel Kellen, YC19 Gabriel Kellen, YC19 Beau Sibuma, YC19


he woman is curled up, hugging her knees to her chest, lying on her side on the floor. There is a guard,

so she can’t escape. She has been denied food and water for two days. She has been threatened with death. Her children have been taken away and beaten. And she is weeping. Yet in the darkness and isolation of this room that serves as her prison, her pain and suffering turns to joy, and she smiles at the privilege of her suffering. She reflects on her connection with the Apostle Paul, who penned his letter to the Philippians from a jail cell: “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel…” (Philippians 1:12).

let’s Call her Pauline

Pauline grew up in central Chad. Muslim family. Muslim community. Islam was all she knew. She learned that Allah

would love her only if she was a “good” Muslim; that all her good and bad deeds in life were recorded by angels; that Allah would weigh her works on a scale one day and judge her accordingly; that even if she lived her life as an obedient and submissive Muslim woman, there was no assurance of Allah’s mercy come judgment day. So she did her best. She married and had five children. When her husband abandoned her and the children, she went to live with her uncle. He accepted her, but grumbled about the burden that she was to him. Pauline’s life was without hope, without joy. Until… One day, a foreigner entered Pauline’s world. A foreigner from a far-away place who spoke a different language and looked out of place. To Pauline’s surprise this foreign woman took great effort to learn her language and to make friends in her town. Pauline gathered up her courage one day and invited this stranger to drink tea with her. A friendship developed, and

Pauline’s world turned upside down. She was introduced to a God whose love of her was not contingent on her performance. His love was unconditional. As a Muslim she had heard about Jesus as a great prophet, born of a virgin, who performed miracles. Now she was hearing about a Jesus who was much more! This Jesus is the Son of God, sent to earth with Pauline in mind. He willingly gave up his life as a sacrifice for her, taking the punishment for her sin on himself, so that she could be presented as perfect before God on judgment day. And she learned that by believing in Jesus, and confessing her faith in him, she would have eternal life in heaven. Pauline believed and confessed. She felt full of hope and assured of life. She could not contain her joy. She shared her joy with her children and her friends. Then her uncle found out she had abandoned the religion of Islam. At first the persecution was relatively

Counting It All Joy*DAN VENBERG

LBIM

T

harmless. He threw cold water on her while she slept, and threatened her verbally. One day he warned her that he would burn her alive the next day if she did not recant. That scared her a little, but she went to her new friend and they prayed together. The next day came and went. Pauline became bolder. Soon the uncle was directing his anger at her children. He started beating them, pushing them to the ground, dumping their food into the dirt, and threatening them. Pauline grieved at the suffering of her children. She herself was ready for persecution, but to see her children suffer was so hard. Yet she took joy in the faith she now shared with her children. Other women came to Pauline to hear her story. People asked her to pray for their sick children. Word spread that her prayers were powerful and effective. One day she prayed for a girl who was demon possessed. The girl was delivered. As is normal in the practice in Islam, payment was offered, but Pauline refused it, stating emphatically that it is God who heals, not her. The persecution continued. Her uncle reported her, and the local religious authorities locked her up in prison. There she received a vision of Jesus, telling her not to fear, that she would not be harmed, and that she was to continue in the bold proclamation of her faith. The local authorities commanded her to stop speaking in God’s authority. She responded that she couldn’t help but share what she knew to be true. Their ultimatum: “Recant within a week or face the consequences.” Pauline said, “In a week, I will still be following Jesus and I am prepared to die.” She was released and she continued to boldly share her faith with anyone who would listen. A few women came to her and confessed faith in Jesus. There were more miraculous healings. More visits to Pauline by women at night. Even the head Quranic teacher in her town invited Pauline to come and share her story with the women who gathered under her teaching. Soon there were ten new believers, then thirty. At last report over

seventy people (all Muslim background) have come to faith because of the testimony of Pauline. Pauline has been beaten, imprisoned, had a knife to her throat, guns to her head, been forced to watch her children beaten, has been denied food and water for days at a time… yet she shows compassion to her tormentors and boldly shares her faith and prays for the salvation of her people. LBIM missionaries serve in Chad so that more people like Pauline can hear the gospel in a context where the gospel is not otherwise heard. This is why our missionaries invest years, learn languages, and live in a cross-cultural context—so that they can enter the world of people like Pauline and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. And we continue to ask the Lord of the Harvest to raise up more laborers to work in these fields. Some of their stories will be like Pauline’s. Some will not be as dramatic. But this is why we do what we do, so that the Word of God will go forth and have its way, so that the message of Christ will be heard, for indeed… “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? …faith comes through hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:14-15a, 17). Thank you for your prayers and support of our mission work around the world. Pray with expectation and anticipation of what the Lord of the Harvest will do in the communities where our missionaries serve.

Dan Venberg serves as Mission Mobilizer and Recruiter for Lutheran Brethren International Mission.

Is the Lord calling you to International Mission?Contact: [email protected]

* Names, places and images are not representative of the subject of this story.


www.LBIM.orgInternational Mission


www.LBIM.orgInternational Mission

mmediately after Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, as recorded in John 4, his disciples return to him after

their food procurement mission into town. They are perplexed as to why Jesus is talking with a foreign woman, and at his apparent lack of interest in lunch. Jesus’ response to them is an exhortation to take note of the spiritual harvest that they are called by him to engage in—“I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35b). Jesus’ exhortation remains relevant for his followers today. It is important that we are observant and aware of the work of our Lord’s mission to the nations, so that we too can engage in the harvest to which we are called. To facilitate your awareness of what the Lord of the Harvest is doing through the ministry of Lutheran Brethren International Mission (LBIM) in Chad, we are excited to roll out the third in a series, “The Glimpse Project: Chad 3.0.” In November of 2018, videographer Micah Nordtvedt, CLB Director of Communications and Prayer Troy Tysdal, and LBIM Mission Mobilizer and Recruiter Dan Venberg traveled to Chad. They spent two weeks on the ground, conducting interviews with LBIM missionaries, Chadian LB missionaries, and with Chadians impacted by our efforts. The resulting stories and video footage have been compiled and developed into a series of twelve short and powerful videos that provide a “glimpse” into the work that God is doing through LBIM in Chad. Themed episodes will focus on a variety of aspects of LBIM’s mission in Chad, including partnership with the Chadian Church, holistic ministries, unreached peoples, women’s ministries, opportunities for your engagement, and more. These Glimpse videos will be an ideal resource to be shown as a “mission moment” during a worship service, in Sunday School classes, in Bible Studies, or other small groups. In the coming months, we will roll out these

episodes to all CLB congregations, along with suggestions on how they can be used to leverage awareness and engagement in this mission. We are excited to share this Glimpse Project with you. We trust you will be blessed by it and that as you view these episodes, you will better see the fields of spiritual harvest in Chad and next door.

Rev. Matthew Rogness serves the Church of the Lutheran Brethren as Director of Lutheran Brethren International Mission.

I

Glimpse Project: Chad 3.0MATTHEW ROGNESS

Dan Venberg, Troy Tysdal, and Micah Nordtvedt.

The interview of Missionary David N.

The interview of Missionary Nathanael S.

Dan Venberg visiting with leaders in a Chadian village.

Troy Tysdal and Missionary Kay A. Micah Nordtvedt

Rev. Harold Earl Hosch passed away on June 26, 2019 at the age of 90. Harold was born in Warren, Ohio. He joined the United States Army at the end of WWII and was stationed in Adak, Alaska, where he served as a military police officer and a cook. After the war, Harold felt called into the ministry. He went to seminary and then served as pastor of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Ashland, Ohio. On November 24, 1955, he married Mary Beany. Later, they moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where Harold went to St. Paul Bible College. After Bible College, Harold went to Wheaton College in Illinois where he received a Master of Science in Old Testament. After serving congregations in Green Bay, Wisconsin and Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. From there, Harold taught for Crown College in St. Bonifacius and then the Association Free Lutheran Bible College in Plymouth. In 1977, Rev. Hosch accepted a professorship at the Lutheran Brethren Seminary in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. After leaving Lutheran Brethren Seminary, he pastored a church in Black Duck, Minnesota, before retiring to Eau Claire, and eventually moving to West Des Moines, Iowa. During his time as a professor, and in retirement, Rev. Hosch wrote a number of articles on the Old Testament. He found his passion in linguistics and worked on translating a number of books from Hebrew to English. His final project was in the Psalms—where he completed an 850 page study. Harold was preceded in death by his loving wife Mary. Blessed be the memory of Rev. Harold Hosch.

Rev. Omar Gjerness, 97, of Fergus Falls, Minnesota went to be with the Lord on Friday, July 19, 2019. He was born in Mandal, Norway on March 5, 1922, the son of Ove and Amalie Gjerness. He grew up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Omar received his education from the University of Wisconsin, Augsburg College, Wagner College, Pasadena College and Lutheran Brethren Seminary. He married Joan Elsie Larsen in Brooklyn, New York on December 17, 1949. Omar worked various jobs while putting himself through school. He was a carpenter in New York and Montana, fished in Alaska, and farmed in Wisconsin. He dabbled in oil painting, played musical instruments, led choirs and was an avid fisher and hunter. Reverend Gjerness served churches in Frontier, Saskatchewan; Malta, Montana; Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York; Billings, Montana; and Pasadena, California. He taught Systematic Theology at Lutheran Brethren Seminary for twenty-nine years, while serving on various boards for the Church of the Lutheran Brethren—including as Vice President of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren, Vice President of Lutheran Brethren Schools, President of Lutheran Brethren Schools, and acting President of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren for a brief period. Rev. Gjerness wrote a column called Answers for Today for Faith and Fellowship magazine and authored seven books. He was listed in Who’s Who in Religion in America. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Joan. Blessed be the memory of Rev. Omar Gjerness.


Faith & Fellowship is the official publication of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren, 1020 W. Alcott Ave., P.O. Box 655, Fergus Falls, MN 56538-0655, issued six times a year (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, November/December) by Faith and Fellowship Publishing, 1020 W. Alcott Ave., P.O. Box 655, Fergus Falls, MN 56538-0655. Phone (218)736-7357. The viewpoints expressed in the articles are those of the authors and may or may not necessarily reflect the official position of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America (CLBA). Periodicals Postage Paid at Fergus Falls, Minnesota 56538.

(USPS 184-600) • (ISSN 10741712)SUBSCRIPTIONS: Faith & Fellowship is offered to its readers at no charge. We would encourage your continued support with a donation, and if you would like to be on our mailing list, please contact our office. Periodicals Postage Paid at Fergus Falls, Minnesota. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please give both old and new addresses and allow four weeks.

Direct all correspondence, including submission of articles, to: Faith & Fellowship, P.O. Box 655, Fergus Falls, MN 56538-0655;Telephone, (218)736-7357; e-mail, [email protected]; FAX, (218)736-2200. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Faith & Fellowship, P.O. Box 655, Fergus Falls, Minnesota 56538-0655 FF

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

1 John 1:7

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www.clba.org | www.ffmagazine.org

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The One Who Kept Walkingesus called his followers to abide in him, or remain in him. There was a man living thousands of years earlier who did just that—by walking.

“Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:23-24). That’s part of an extended genealogy where all the individuals listed have one thing in common: “…and then he died.” All except Enoch. If we use “walking” to describe the bigger picture of making your way through life, we understand that the reason Enoch did not stop walking had everything to do with the way he walked. So, how are you walking? This is one really important question, because how you walk determines how you stop. Watch people walking, and you can tell, in every case, why they are walking by the way they walk. You see someone power walking, you know it’s about health. You see someone walking alone, at a leisurely pace, you understand that they are enjoying the solitude of some alone-time to contemplate personal thoughts. You see someone walking slowly, aimlessly. They get to a corner, pause briefly, then randomly turn left or right. They may be feeling sorrow, disillusionment, they just feel they have to go somewhere—anywhere. You see two people walking casually, you hear their voices, occasional laughter. They are walking in close companionship. I recently saw a couple of women walking by my house, and was impressed by their multi-tasking walking ability: They were power walking, having a lively discussion, and every so often they’d pause suddenly as one of them used a litter stick to pick up trash on the curb or the street and place it in a bag she carried. If we could all do that, what a wonderful world this would be! What is walking with God like? The benefits of walking with God are similar to the benefits of walking with your friend—only far better! What is this degree of fellowship with God like? Think of Enoch. Think of King David (“a man after God’s own heart”). Think of the disciple John, who called himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” These people enjoyed very close and precious relationships with God. So it’s not a physical walk, but it’s real. More than real, if there can be such a thing. The invisible Triune God surrounds you, speaks to you through his Word; he hears you, lives in you, loves you, comforts you, strengthens you, and works good through you. The basis of Enoch’s walk, we learn in Hebrews 11:5-6, is faith. This is an incredible offer of friendship from the Almighty God himself, on the basis of faith in Jesus. God desires your companionship! How precious is this invitation to walk with him!

Rev. Brent Juliot is Pastor of Oak Ridge Lutheran Brethren Church in Menomonie, Wisconsin.

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DIRECTORNORTH AMERICAN MISSION

REV. NICK MUNDIS

NAMRestructure

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORNORTH AMERICAN MISSION

DR. RYAN NILSEN

ASSOCIATE FOR MINISTRY SUPPORTOFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

REV. PHIL HEISER

Position Announcements:

www.CLBA.org/nam-restructure

faith fellowship september/october 2019 abide in …...faith fellowship september/october 2019 vol....

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